Pioneer Woman Summer 2020

Hello, friends! It’s hard to know how to start this letter; what an unbelievable period of time it has been. There’s no real way to summarize what our country and world have gone through, but it’s obviously unprecedented for us all. I hope you and your families are safe and well, and I pray that by the time you’re reading this note, things have gotten better and better. “Readjustment” seems to be the universal experience for so many, and the same is true in the Drummond family. Alex came home from Dallas to work remotely on her management job. Paige returned from college to finish her spring semester online. Bryce and Todd had to transition to online school as well as navigate self-led football training so their progress doesn’t fall off…

Out of all the recipes you’ve made on your show, which one do you cook for your family the most? —Karla Torruellas, West Palm Beach, FL The true go-to recipes I make are chicken spaghetti, Ladd’s favorite steak sandwiches, chicken parmesan, and beef, chicken or veggie quesadillas. We keep it really family-friendly around here! What is the recipe for the triple berry jam you serve at The Merc? —Bonnie Daugherty, Arapaho, OK Here you go! We call it Doc’s Triple Berry Jam, named after chef Bryan “Doc” Campbell. Doc’s Triple Berry Jam Combine 2 cups each raspberries, blackberries and blueberries (fresh or frozen), 1 peeled and chopped green apple and 2 cups sugar in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries break down and the sugar dissolves, 5 minutes. Skim off any foam…

Last year, Ree’s store and restaurant, The Mercantile, threw one heck of a Fourth of July bash. More than 10,000 people turned out to dance, shop, play carnival games and, of course, eat (find the recipes on page 70). For Ree, nothing was more fun than seeing her small town transformed into a joyous patriotic party. “I loved meeting all the kids who visited from near and far. Everyone was relaxed and the smiles were abundant!” The day started at 11 a.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m. with a bang: fireworks, manned by Ladd and the cowboys. “They’re always the star of the show,” Ree says. This year’s celebration might be a little smaller for all of us, but we can still get some inspiration (and great recipes) from the…

“The key here is the mile-high espadrilles. They add legginess and style to this mom-friendly outfit!”—Ree“You can’t go wrong with a chambray shirt and jean skirt. They’re the perfect mix of comfy and cute!”—Abby PHOTOS: KEVIN SWEENEY; STYLING: ANNE WLAYSEWSKI.…

I used to have a near-exact replica of the outfit Julia Roberts wore to the polo match in Pretty Woman: you know, the brown silk polka dot one with the matching straw hat. I’ve always felt that polka dots are better in small doses, so I loved that the outfit was a skirt and top and I could mix and match the pieces. I remember wearing the polka dot shell with jeans and a linen blazer with the sleeves rolled up. If only I were that cool now! Turn the page to find out how polka dots captured all of our hearts, then find a new piece of your own.…

A Rough Beginning During medieval times in Europe, wearing clothing with dots was taboo: Fabric makers couldn’t create uniform patterns, so dots were randomly placed and the look reminded people of the marks caused by smallpox and the plague. Not the ideal fashion statement! Dots Become Good Luck By the 19th century, dots started being embraced around the world as a sign of good fortune (in part because they resemble coins). In Filipino culture, polka dots are standard attire on New Year’s Eve, and in France, wearing dots on New Year’s Day is thought to bring prosperity in the coming year. America Falls in Love The term “polka dot” first appeared in the US in a popular women’s magazine in 1857. But we’ve been particularly enamored since the 1950s, when dots became high fashion: Christian…